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NHL Power Rankings

Power rankings are updated every Tuesday throughout the NHL season.

Rank

Team

Record

Change

Comment

1

New York Rangers

17-8-1

▲ 1

The Blueshirts have an entertaining matchup with Chicago coming up this week. By then, forward Michael Grabner, who had 13 goals in 26 games before taking personal leave last week, should be back in the lineup.

2

Columbus Blue Jackets

15-5-4

▲ 5

This is one of the best stories in the NHL. Winners of four straight, the Blue Jackets are playing some great hockey and may soon have the best record in the NHL.

3

Montreal Canadiens

17-6-2

▼ 2

Losing leading scorer Alex Galchenyuk (lower-body injury) indefinitely will put this team to the test. There may be some tough road ahead.

4

Chicago Blackhawks

16-8-3

▼ 1

Hawks have lost two in a row and are finding life rather tough without captain Jonathan Toews (back injury) in the lineup. Hawks have lost three of the six games he has missed.

5

San Jose Sharks

15-9-1

▲ 8

The Sharks are beginning to hit a stride. Now sitting atop the Pacific Division, this is a much more disciplined team than in seasons past. Head coach Peter DeBoer may get some coach-of-the-year consideration.

6

St. Louis Blues

14-7-4

▼ 2

With the Blackhawks reeling just a bit, this is a good time for the Blues to seize control of the Central Division. Blues are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

7

Boston Bruins

15-10-1

▼ 1

Riding a three-game win streak, and with Montreal having injury issues, this seems like the perfect time to push for the Atlantic Division lead.

8

Washington Capitals

14-7-3

▼ 3

Washington recently ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Buffalo Sabres. Alex Ovechkin has not scored since his Nov. 23 hat trick vs St Louis. As he goes, so goes the team.

9

Ottawa Senators

15-9-2

▼ 1

The Sens may need to make a move to get another scorer unless Forward Bobby Ryan, who has been on injured reserve since Nov. 29, can return to form once he’s back on the ice. Ryan has only three goals on the season.

10

Los Angeles Kings

13-10-2

▲ 1

As long as the Kings continue to play within themselves and to their strengths, they will be fine. They sit just three points behind the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks.

11

Pittsburgh Penguins

16-7-3

▼ 2

Plain and simple, the Pens must shore up the team’s defense; they have allowed 80 goals this season. In the Eastern Conference, only the Philadelphia Flyers (85 goals allowed) have allowed more goals against.

12

Anaheim Ducks

12-9-5

▲ 3

Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler remain one of the best first and second line center combos in the NHL. During games, the team still seems to lose focus for brief stretches, but that should be corrected as the season moves on.

13

New Jersey Devils

10-6-5

▼ 3

Forward Michael Cammalleri continues his hot streak. The crafty veteran forward has scored nine goals in his last eight games.

14

Tampa Bay Lightning

14-11-2

▼ 2

The Lightning continue to lose way more often than they should. At some point, head coach Jon Cooper might begin to feel some heat.

15

Nashville Predators

11-9-4

▲ 2

After a disastrous start to the season, the Preds seem to have finally things turned around. A big matchup with the division rival Dallas Stars is coming up this week.

16

Toronto Maple Leafs

10-9-5

▲ 4

A respectable record of 4-4-2 in the last 10 games has kept the Leafs in a good spot. A big head-to-head matchup with the division rival Boston Bruins is coming up this week.

17

Philadelphia Flyers

14-10-3

▲ 6

The Flyers may be just teasing their fans with this five-game win streak, but where it is due, credit must be given. The Flyers are playing well.

18

Dallas Stars

10-10-6

▲ 1

The Stars’ subpar record is bad enough, but a -19 goal differential for the season is truly disturbing. Stars have given up more goals (85) than any team in the Western Conference.

19

Edmonton Oilers

14-10-3

▼ 5

After a great start to the season, the Oilers have become very mediocre. They have just five wins in the last 14 games.

20

Calgary Flames

13-13-2

▲ 5

Suddenly, there is hope. The Flames have won three straight and now also have star forward Johnny Gaudreau back in the lineup. The Flames are heating up.

21

Carolina Hurricanes

10-10-5

▲ 1

Slowly but surely, the Canes are creeping up into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. There is a long way to go, but they are headed in the right direction.

22

Vancouver Canucks

11-12-2

▲ 4

With a record of 6-3-1 in the last 10 games, the Canucks are beginning to rise in the Pacific Division. An upcoming five-game Eastern Conference road trip could make or break their season.

23

Winnipeg Jets

13-13-2

▼ 2

Jets have played themselves into the thick of the entertaining Central division race. They do have a tough week ahead, as they will face Detroit, New York Rangers, Calgary and Edmonton.

24

Minnesota Wild

12-8-4

▼ 8

Somewhat quietly, in 19 games played, Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk has put up some ridiculous numbers. His four shutouts, .963 save percentage and 1.63 goals against average are worthy of Vezina Trophy consideration.

25

Florida Panthers

12-11-3

▼ 7

In the wake of the controversial firing of head coach Gerard Gallant, the Panthers have posted a record of 1-1-2. Rather mediocre, considering they fired a coach who, just last season, was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award (NHL coach-of-the-year.)

26

Detroit Red Wings

12-11-3

▼ 2

Considering that injuries have claimed so many key players, including forwards Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm and Johan Franzen, as well as goaltender Jimmy Howard, the Wings are actually doing okay.

27

Arizona Coyotes

8-12-4

▲ 1

Losers of four straight, this week the Coyotes will face Chicago, Calgary, Nashville and Pittsburgh. This losing streak could get ugly.

28

New York Islanders

9-10-5

▲ 1

The next four games are against New York Rangers, St. Louis, Columbus and Washington. This could finally, mercifully, be the end for head coach Jack Capuano.

29

Buffalo Sabres

9-10-6

▲ 1

The return of forward Jack Eichel is about the only good news for the Sabres. Kyle Okposo has a respectable seven goals this season, but Evander Kane has scored just once.

30

Colorado Avalanche

9-13-1

▼ 3

Colorado is currently enduring a five-game losing streak during which they have been outscored 20-10.

About The Ranker:

Charles Smith Jr. spent his entire childhood in southern California before joining the military. Although passionate about all sports, his main focus is on ice hockey—a sport he has played and/or coached since 1975.

In 1994, Mr. Smith created the sports talk show ‘INSIDE SPORTS,’ and also became a credentialed member of NHL media. All his latest articles and webcasts are available online at www.Officialinsidesports.com